The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-11-22
Report of tho Grand Jury.
To Hon. g. p. Aldridge, Judge Of

After long and tedious session
embracing over four weeks In which
time we have diligently inquired into
all ofi'enses committed against the law,
that came to our knowledge and re-
turned such true bills against the of.
tenders as we believe are guilty,
amounting in the aggregate to over
three hundred in number, most OF
which occurred during the grand
State Fair and are for petty larceny.
Our fair drew large number of peo-
pie from all points of the United States
and with them came an influx of
thieves from Chicago and Kansas City,
most of whom were Immediately ar.
rested by Sheriff Lewis and his depu-
ties, who always seem to be on the
a,ert.
We also visited the jail and find it
as comfortable rs circumstances will
permit. There is at this time confined
there, charged with various oflenses
sixty three prisoners, fifteen of whom
are United States prisoners. They
appear TO have practice in vogue
among themselves of holding what
they are pleased to term kangaroo
court. While this may tend to amuse
them to some extent the punishment
inflicted by this barbaric tribunal is
often too severe to be funny to the
parties receiving the punishment.
This practice should be restricted to
some extent ut least.
We also visited the county poor
farm and find confined there u pris-
oners, four of whom are females and
thirty-two paupers. The farm con.
tains $40 acres of land, 250 of which
was in cultivation this season and pro.
duced 81 bales of cotton, 1000 bushels
of wheat, 1000 bushels of oats, $500
bushels of corn, 500 gallans of mola.cs,
30 bushels of pecans, and
vegetables sufficient to keep
up the farm. There is also belonging
TO the county mu.es, rs head of cat
tie, 6S head of hogs. Mr.. Burgess,
the superintendent, appears to be the
right man in the right place. Some
of the departments are wanting in
furniture. We also examined most
of our county affairs and find them in
flourishing condition.
The county i5 in fine condition
financially. We have no outstand ng
script, and the Bonded Indebtedness
amounts to only $64500 which has
been provided for by sinking fund
set apart by the commissioners court.
The assessors book shows the
amount OF taxable property assessed
for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1886, to be l7,205,5S0 and for the
year 1887 $22.2Ss,32O, a net gain of
&5,082,740 in one years time. The
collectors books show $SS,47SS4 was
collected and turned over to the coun-
ty treasurer. The treasurer's books
show that $113,933.S9 was collected
from all sources for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1887,
Here follows nice compliment to
Tax Collector Gillespi and
Treasurer Smith and Assessor Scott
who keep their books in such COM
mcndable manner.
Resuming again the report suggests
to the commissioners the propriety of
making some needed improvements
about tho court house, and continuing,
recommends the erection of iron in
stead of wooden bridges across the
principal streams in the county as
matter of economy as well as safety.
Touching Oh gambling, the follow
ing is found in the report:
Whereas, Ii has been made known
to the grand jury now in session that
there is species of gambling going
OH under the sanction of law in vari-
GUS villages of the county and the city
of Dallas which we do not believe is
authorized by the statutes, known and
called pool tables, used and exhibited
for playing games styled pool.
Whereas, The existence and run
ming of said tables have been hereto
fore sanctioned indirectly by issuing
license TO said tables intended 10
cover the occupation of running and
exhibiting said tables aud